Vic Damone Jr.

Chris Mannix is speculating. Flat out. What he said is based on vibes in the arena, not actual reporting. Let’s be clear about something with the Clippers situation: The idea that Kawhi Leonard could have his contract voided is *extremely* unlikely—probably the least likely outcome on the table. Why? Because it creates a massive conflict of interest. The NBA’s Board of Governors is made up of team owners. You’re asking them to make a decision that could directly benefit their own franchises. That alone makes it a legal and ethical minefield before you even get into the contractual hurdles. Another thing—Steve Ballmer’s net worth is completely irrelevant. I’ve seen Trevor Lane bring up whether a $30M fine is “enough” because Ballmer is so wealthy. That’s not how this works. Ballmer isn’t being investigated as an individual. The Los Angeles Clippers organization is. You don’t scale punishment based on personal wealth when the entity being disciplined is the franchise itself. And the idea that the Clippers should be stripped of everything? That’s just not grounded in reality. This is a business. The Clippers are a top-5 valued NBA franchise and a major market team. The league isn’t going to intentionally damage one of its own products to “send a message,” especially when: * Expansion is on the horizon * RSN deals are still unstable * Franchise valuations are critical to the league’s growth That kind of punishment would hurt the NBA more than it helps. If the Clippers did something wrong, they’ll be punished. But it will be proportional—not catastrophic. You want precedent? Look at the Houston Astros. They were caught cheating during a championship run and the punishment was a $5M fine and lost draft picks. No titles vacated. No franchise destruction. Even in soccer, where penalties can be harsher, context still matters. FC Barcelona is a perfect example—financial penalties impacted the club, but the league still has to protect its overall ecosystem. That’s the point: Punishment is about accountability—not self-sabotage. The NBA isn’t going to nuke one of its own franchises just to prove a point.